The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-28
MR. COMMISSIONERS CHAMBERLAIN.

eff Mr.. Gladstone were gone neither Har-
court nor Morley could assume the unchal-
lenged leadership of the Liberal party. They
would be almost impossible as Goschen or
Harrington, and the progression in the hands
of an orderly party, the cause of Ireland would
depend upon Chamberlain. The third point
is that any serious assault upon Mr.. Chamber
lain in this country would damage the Irish
cause irreparably in British public opinion
and be a misfortune second only to that of
the Phoenix Park murders. It is disreputa-
BILE and disturbing thing that there is even
any talk of the need of guarding him in the
capital of the United States with detectives"
This we find in letter in the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette, discussing the status of
Mr.. Chamberlain toward the present and fut-
ure of the Liberal party in England. There
could scarcely be more grotesque misappre-
hension of the real condition of sentiment in
England. When Mr.. Chamberlain was
Liberal he was an influential one, and was
permitted very free latitude for his opinions
or vagaries, whichever they may be. He was
regarded by many as the rightful heir to the
primacy when Mr.. Gladstone should abdicate,
and was treated with the consideration due an
heir-apparent. But all this is changed now.
the Liberal party than Mr.. Chamberlain.
His open detection might have been condoned,
OF, at least, looked upon with some de-
gree of leniency, as is that of old John Bright
but when it was announced that he had been
paid for the desertion of his Liberal colleagues
with the post of chief fishery commission
err, his present status and future
prospects with the Liberal party
were settled. It was regarded as bargain
and sale then, and is so regarded now by the
great mass of the party. His case is tanta-
mount with that of any one of the American
'liberals' of 1872 who left the Republican
party. So long man remained really
independent and it appeared that he was
degree of respect; but when he accepted office
at the hands of his constitutional opponents,
he was soon lost in public contempt, and
found his level as a place-hunter place
holder in the ranks of those whose patronage
he accepted. There is nothing more improb-
able than Mr.. Chamberlain's leadership of the
Liberal party in England under any event
The reading of English party history has
been to little purpose if any one imaglnes that
a crime against party is easily forgotten or
forgiven.
The clatter about protection to Mr.. Cham
berlain and the necessity of detectives to
guard him is not disgraceful to America or to
our government; it is disgraceful to his
English masters. who thus surround him, in
the hope of magnifying his Importance both
here and at home They did the same thing
with him when he was in England, in the
effort to make it appear that his life was in
danger from the friends of Irish home rule
there. An attack upon Mr.. Chamberlain
would be a godsend to the Salisbury Balfour
Ministry, and it would not be surprise If
dummy" should be organized to fire the
British heart. Mr.. Chamberlain is as absolutely
safe in America in Washington or anywhere
else in the United States any other man,
official or private person. He is of the least
possible consequence, except he may be
used By the Tory government in the hope